Local Creamery Holds First "Bigfoot Day" As Family-Friendly Event

It might be the closest sighting Selwyn and Peterborough may get of the legendary creature as Central Smith Creamery held its first ‘Bigfoot Day’ as a family-friendly event on Friday afternoon.

"‘Bigfoot’ (left) with Isabelle Greer, 6 (right) in a photo op. All visitors were welcome to interact and have their picture taken with the mythic figure. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The Bigfoot is a nod to one of the creamery’s flavours that consists of vanilla ice cream, peanut butter cups and chocolate ripple.

“Bigfoot ice cream has been a staple around Central Smith for about 25 years and we just felt it was time to really highlight the flavour,” said Jenn Scates, Central Smith Creamery co-owner.

@ptbo_canada It’s Bigfoot Day at @central_smith Creamery! See the big man, get a photo and $1 Bigfoot kiddie cones! #ptbo #ptbocanada #icecream #summer #bigfoot #delicious #food #foodie #foodtiktok #sweet #sweets #icecreamday ♬ Ice Cream - BLACKPINK & Selena Gomez

The event features ‘Bigfoot’ as a costume, one dollar kiddie cones of the respective flavour, a search for 10 hidden ice cream vouchers and children’s activities.

Visitors were allowed to have their photos taken with Bigfoot and interact with him while getting ice cream.

The event is the creamery’s first that doubles as a playful joke towards Trent University.

"There's apparently a group at Trent University who's been looking for Bigfoot so we wanted to tell them that we 'found' him," said Scates.

The event was originally scheduled for last Friday but was postponed due to the weather. Central Smith has over 60 flavours of ice cream that are in regular rotation.

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Peterborough Public Library is Yarn Bombed For National Deafblind Awareness Month

Roughly 130 squares crocheted together is the newest art piece for Peterborough Public Library as they were ‘yarn bombed’ for National Deafblind Awareness Month on Thursday.

Sarah Grimbly, Deafblind communications coordinator (left) with Mayor Diane Therrien (right) with the roughly 130 crocheted squares hanging on the left side of the Peterborough Public Library upon walking in the main entrance. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Yarn bombing (also known as knitfiti) is a form of street art where yarn is knit, crocheted or wrapped and is displayed in a public space.

The yarn squares were made by people serviced by Deaf Blind Ontario Services (a company that provides services to deaf and/or blind), knitting groups and volunteers. The company’s campaign is in its second year to celebrate those who are blind and/or deaf.

“The individuals we support have both hearing and vision loss and heavily rely on their tactile senses,” said Sarah Grimbly, DeafBlind communications coordinator. “Knitting, crocheting, the feeling of the yarn, that's all very tactile and so it was a great way to get them participating in the initiative as well.”

Mayor Diane Therrien says it is an initiative that Peterborough is happy to get behind and will be effective in helping create dialogue and awareness for deaf and blind people.

“The Peterborough Library is a community hub, there's a lot of people that come through here so the more awareness we can bring to it, the better,” she said. “It's a great conversation piece that people will talk about and spread the word to friends and family.”

Several crocheted projects have yarn-bombed cities all over the province. They exist in parks, downtown spaces, public buildings and more. Participating cities include London, Innisfil and Ottawa alongside Peterborough.

The knitted project remains on the library wall for the month of June.

National Deafblind Awareness Month happens every June since it is the birth month of famed author Helen Keller, known for having vision and hearing loss.

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Local Man Jumped Into Action To Feed Residents In Apartment Building Left Days Without Power

When last weeks storm left many without power, local man Matty Hiltz took it upon himself to grill up a meal for those without power at the Brooklawn apartments.

Photo courtesy of Lori Forsyth.

Hiltz, an in home care giver who previously worked for VON before starting his own business, had many clients that lived in the Brooklawn apartments.

“That was the main building I worked at for about three years, I got to know my clients and the others in the building very closely,” he said.

Hiltz says he still visits his clients in the building to visit and to offer haircuts to those that aren’t able to leave the building for appointments easily.

He says he visited the building on Thursday, five days after the storm, and it was still without power. Many residents have mobility issues or diabetes and they weren’t able to leave the building or eat properly.

“It really broke my heart so I leaped into action. I knew something had to be done.”

He spoke with his clients for the day and arranged to finished work early. They also offered to help Hiltz with his mission.

Hiltz bought burgers and hotdogs, brought his own barbeque to Brooklawn and invited residents to enjoy a warm meal.

Tina Clarke, who works for VON, was there to help too. She delivered meals to those on upper floors with mobility issues that were unable to make it downstairs to the barbeque.

“The smiles on their faces, were so touching,” he said. “They were so appreciative. One gentleman told me he hadn’t had a hot meal since Saturday which broke my heart.”

He noted that, as horrible as the storm was, it brought people together.

“There’s always good that comes out of something bad. I don’t think my smile could have gotten any bigger that day.”

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Rotary Club of Peterborough Celebrates Century Milestone With Semi-Formal Gala in June

The Rotary Club of Peterborough is turning back the clock a century with a semi-formal gala to commemorate its 100th anniversary for June 11.

(From left to right) Betty Halman-Plumley, Catherine Hanrahan, Elizabeth Ichniovsky, Milan Ichniovsky, Sally Harding and Atul Swarup.

The club began in 1921 but could not celebrate its true century mark last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions.

The semi-formal gala is happening at The Ballroom at Fleming College with tickets at $150 which anyone can attend. The Rotary wanted to celebrate in style where some guests will wear era-appropriate clothing and accessories.

“We always wanted to do a party, it was always going to be a party to celebrate 100 years,” said Atul Swarup, 100th anniversary committee chair.

“We wanted to set it apart from what we see all the time, this is about dressing up, feeling proud and feeling like we've been here 100 years,” said Sally Harding, Rotary co-chair. “This is not a fundraiser, this is just a celebration of 100 years.”

The gala features a three-course dinner made by Fleming culinary students. Alcohol such as red and white wine and champagne is being served with tuxedo strawberries. Rock band ‘The Dreamboats’ will have a live performance and a DJ for guests to dance to.

Tickets can be purchased on the Rotary website via Eventbrite.

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Local Food Truck Owner Steps Up And Offers Meals To Anyone Without Power

Travis Berlenbach, owner of Trip Taco food truck in Peterborough put a pause on business as usual after a devastating storm hit the area on Saturday and offered residents soup and sandwiches while many were left without power.

Berlenbach was busy setting up his Taco truck at Fleming College for the Electric City football game when the storm hit.

“We just got set up and then the storm hit,” he said. “It was pretty crazy. We had to bring some people into the trailer because I saw things flying through the air and I knew it was a risk to try and make it to the building.”

After the storm, Berlenbach began to hear of the mass power outages in the city, though he still had power. He knew he needed to do something.

“I wanted to open on Sunday, but I wasn’t able to get into my shop because it’s at one of the only gas stations open in town,” he said.

He says he didn’t realize the extent of the damage and amount of people out of power and food until he went to visit his mom.

“Normally it annoys me when I see fast food joint packed, being a tiny local taco shop but I realized people weren’t there to get burgers and fries, they were there out of necessity,” said Berlenbach.

Berlenbach says because of working in restaurants his whole life, he is quite resourceful.

In a social media post on Monday, Berlenbach announced his plans to put together soup and sandwiches to distribute at his food truck, and that he wouldn’t be officially charging anything - though welcomed people to pay what they could.

“My job is to feed people and I just wanted to try and do that as best as I could I guess. I know what it’s like to have your back against the wall needing something. I have something right now, not much but I have it if people need it,” said Berlenbach.

Trip Taco is located at 1794 Chemong Rd. They offer catering for events of all sizes.

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Ukrainian Man Welcomed In True Peterborough Spirit

Serghei Gubanov, a Ukrainian refugee that came to Peterborough on May 11, was given a true Peterborough welcome last week

With the help of Pete Dalliday, various businesses in Peterborough came together to help Gubanov adjust to a new life.

Gubanov, who is staying with a resident in Peterborough, was given a bike by Martin and Cheryl from Auto Connect.

Gubanov says while he had his license in Ukraine he enjoyed biking whenever he could. He recently got his driver license in Canada and plans to buy a car when he can.

Gubanov joined Glenn Millar from Darling Insurance for lunch at Chemong Lodge, before heading to Toronto for Blue Jays game.

With lunch, a bike, a place to stay and some new friends Gubanov says he is overwhelmed and grateful.

He is eagerly waiting for his sister and niece to be able to join him in Peterborough, and hopes to find a place of his own. With a Masters in Mechanical Engineering and Forensic Science he is more than willing to work and busy applying to any job he can.

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Riverview Park & Zoo Launches Return to Full Schedule; Creates Fundraising Campaign For New Train Next Year

Riverview Park & Zoo is celebrating their grand opening on Saturday with a return of all amenities and services while launching a fundraising campaign to replace the miniature locomotive projected for next year on Friday.

Donors Anne and Ross Dobbins conducting the first train ride of the season. The miniature train ride was first established in 1974 with the support of James Hamilton. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Amenities include the Kiwanis snack bar and miniature train rides that are in full operation from Victoria Day Weekend until Labour Day weekend. The zoo is open from 8:30 a.m. to dusk daily.

The grand re-opening family-friendly event includes the following:

• 10:00 a.m. Zoo Yoga - with Salty Yoga

• 10:00 a.m. Snack Shack opens

• 10:00 a.m. Gift Shop Market opens

• 11:00 a.m. Storytime in the Park

• 1:00 p.m. Bird-Friendly Trail Walks

• 3:00 p.m. Concert in the Park: Steve Waters and Cartwright Boundary

• Draw for a zoo Swag Basket and an exclusive family/group tour

The 1974 miniature locomotive is running for its last year. The train will be replaced through a fundraiser known as the ‘Riverview Railway Capital Campaign.’ The zoo has already raised roughly 50 per cent of its total funding for the train from donors and prior fundraising efforts.

“In 1979, the company that made the train went out of business," said Jim Maloney, zoo manager and curator. "Finding replacement parts for it at this point is getting very difficult or very expensive. We don't want to be in a situation where we have a major breakdown and we don't have a train to offer to our visitors."

@ptbo_canada The Riverview Park & Zoo’s train is in its last year as they will try and get a new one for 2023! #ptbo #ptbocanada #zoo #train #minaturetrain #riverview #choochoo ♬ C'mon N' Ride It (The Train) - Quad City DJ's

The zoo is offering dedication plates set in each seat compartment of the new train ride as a fundraising effort. The seat dedications are $2,500 each that include a personalized plaque of either your name or can be dedicated in honour of someone else.

All purchases from the snack bar allow an option to round up the a customer’s bill to the nearest dollar as the proceeds go towards the new train.

To be a sponsor or dedicate a seat bench on the train, please contact Cathy Mitchell, Program Supervisor 705-748-9301 x 2304 or cmitchell@riverviewparkandzoo.ca.

Donations to the ‘All Aboard the Riverview Railway Train Campaign’ can be made online.

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Ukrainian Refugee Ready to Make Peterborough His New Home

Ukrainian refugee Sergii Gubanov has called Peterborough home after five days of arriving in town last Thursday.

Photo courtesy of Pete Dalliday.

He was forced to flee Ukraine and arrived in Peterborough with nothing except a backpack

Gubanov obtained his driver’s licence on Tuesday and has been seeking employment. He is seeking a place to live next month and get a bike to ride to work.

He has a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters in Forensic Science.

Gubanov has a sister and a nine-year-old niece and wants them to follow his lead by immigrating to Canada.

“By the grace of God, I hope to bring them to Canada to safety from this war once I get established in the community,” he said.

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